Traffic flows smoothly as I-55 diversion begins

MoDOT Project Manager Andy Meyer talks about the traffic diversion

MoDOT began diverting traffic over the new on- and off-ramps of northbound Interstate 55 in the East Main Street/LaSalle Avenue interchange project Wednesday afternoon, the day the transportation agency had hoped to begin the diversion.

The diversion started with northbound traffic, which began using one of the ramp lanes just before noon. Southbound traffic was detoured onto the ramps starting around 5 p.m. after sand-filled barrels were put in place to delineate the crossover route from the southbound lanes onto the ramps.

Around 4 p.m., in the middle of the 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. peak traffic time cited by MoDOT, traffic was moving slower than the posted 50 mph speed limit on the ramps, but wasn't stopped.

"Right now we're not seeing any problems in terms of backups, which is a good thing," Meyer said at the site about 4:30 p.m. "The ramps are signed and designed to allow traffic to move through here at 50 miles an hour. We anticipate it will go a little slower than that, particularly in the morning southbound and the evening southbound, because locals will still try to use this as a road between Jackson, Fruitland and Cape Girardeau."

Signs were posted along I-55 as far south as Scott City and as far north as Oak Ridge advising drivers of the detour.

Two-way traffic will continue on the new ramps until November, when MoDOT hopes to have I-55's southbound lanes open, perhaps before Thanksgiving, Meyer said.

Before that happens, contractors must blast away the current road and excavate a 30-foot-deep hole that will provide the roadbed for East Main Street and LaSalle Avenue. Bridges will be built on I-55 over the new road.

Meyer said about 10,000 vehicles travel the route each day. Local traffic is being encouraged to find alternate routes, such as U.S. 61, where blue "incident bypass route" signs are in place. U.S. 61 will be used as an alternate route in case of an accident or other situation in which I-55's lanes in the project vicinity are closed.

Wide loads are being diverted on U.S. 61 through Jackson, where they must pass by the courthouse square.

Jackson city administrator Jim Roach said he wasn't aware of traffic problems on the first day resulting from vehicles taking a route through Jackson around the project. There's little Jackson can do to alleviate congestion problems that might arise, Roach said, other than making sure police and public works are aware of the situation.

"I don't really know what to expect," Roach said. "We'll probably have a little more traffic, but nothing overwhelming."

Many hassles could come with increased traffic on one of the city's main transportation arteries, but Roach sees a possible benefit, as well.

"Some of that traffic might be good for business. Maybe they'll stop and get some gas or a hamburger."

Meyer said contractors will start work today breaking up the I-55 pavement to prepare the site for blasting.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182